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Free Land
For Families
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It’s considered the American dream – owning a home. One town in the heart of America is trying to help people make that dream come true. Tiny Marquette, Kansas is giving away free lots hoping to attract new neighbors and keep the community alive. Kim Riemland reports. |
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SCRIPT:
Marquette, Kansas – population 645 – is struggling to stay alive. The town recovered from a powerful tornado 100 years ago, but now residents face another peril.
Teacher in classroom: “When is your spelling worksheet due?”
Its only school was about to close because there weren’t enough students. It was an alarming situation for Mayor Steve Piper.
Steve Piper / Mayor of Marquette, Kansas: “In Kansas, they finance schools with so much money per student, so to keep our school going we needed more kids.”
Town leaders decided the fastest way to get families to move to town was to give away something it had plenty of: empty land – right next door to the United Methodist church.
The Rev. Larry Brock / Marquette United Methodist Church: “If we know when they’re coming, get 15 or 20 of us and we’ve gone to help unload.”
People from Virginia to California are now building houses on the free land, including the Behanna’s (be-HAN-nah’s), who had never been to Kansas before.
Angela Behanna / New Resident: “It’s more like a family.”
And 45 new students are now enrolled in school.
Mayor Piper, a United Methodist who runs Marquette’s only grocery store, says the plan is paying off in more ways than one.
Steve Piper: “God put us here for a purpose and that our reason for being in a small town is the family relationship that you have with people.”
It offers a small-town feel that some in bigger cities might envy.
The Rev. Larry Brock: “I don’t know if I would call it ‘Mayberry RFD,’ but it’s awfully close.”
Close enough for a new generation of pioneers looking to grab a piece of the American dream.
TAG:
So far, Marquette, Kansas has given away 20 free lots to families willing to build a home. And more land is available. Several other areas in the state are also offering sites. You can learn more by visiting www.kansasfreeland.com.